Overview of SUC Programme

“Sustainable Urban Development and Livable Garden Community-China Programme” (SUC) is an effective demonstration project launched by the UNEP for the very first time focusing on the developing countries. Initiated in China, it is proposed by Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General & UNEP Executive Director; Klaus Toepfer, former UN Under-Secretary-General and & UNEP Executive Director, acts as General Consultant.

There is a huge gap between the developed countries and developing countries in the fields of environmental-friendly technology, funds, scientific planning technology, resource allocation capacity, etc. SUC, led by UNEP, focuses on “local cities” and “communities (buildings)” and integrates “the best practices and definitions of sustainable cities and communities” at global level. SUC also maintains a close cooperation with global stakeholders, including international sustainable organizations and institutions to develop guidelines and standard systems for the developing countries, especially for sustainable cities and communities in China. Representatives of Chinese cities and enterprises will be selected to be guided by UNEP’s international expert groups during the entire three years to build international pilot templates for sustainable cities and communities. Meanwhile, SUC will establish a solid and effective platform for international sustainable actions and initiatives within China to promote interactive communication mechanism between Chinese sustainable cities and communities and those around the world. Other international cooperative institutions and networks include C40, Environment Initiative Council, CCI and UN- Habitat, etc.

According to the SUC cooperative plan, promotion and platform establishment for “UN Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities” and “Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative” in China are converged in SUC and are implemented by JCCN.